Branch�s Dakar dream receives KTM boost
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday November 10, 2017 12:17
The deal was signed at KTM offices in Johannesburg last week Friday.
KTM is an Austrian-based motorcycle and sports car manufacturing company that has subsidiaries in all continents.
The deal will see Branch become only the second Botswana rider, after Vincent Crosbie, to compete in the rigorous Dakar rally.
Branch is set to compete in 2019 in the 41st edition of the inter-continental race in his final year of the KTM deal.
His deal came after the deadline of the 2018 Dakar Rally had elapsed in June. There would be no Motswana rider in Dakar next year.
Branch will have to be at his best to at least match Crosbie’s achievements of finishing the demanding race that spans across four countries.
Crosbie set the bar high for the local riders, as he became the sixth rookie to finish the 9,000km race since inception albeit on position 36.
He finished his 12 stages at 38:43:37. The 30-year-old experienced Branch believes he has all the ingredients necessary to conquer the demanding Dakar course. He has already qualified after clinching the Dakar sanctioned Toyota Desert race.
“I am happy and I am thankful to KTM. This is a huge step in my racing career and I will pull all the stops to make it worthwhile,” he told Mmegi Sport.
“Dakar is a huge challenge in all fronts but I believe I have what it takes in terms of speed, endurance and concentration. If all goes well I wish to, at least, finish in the top 20, it will be a huge achievement for me.” Branch said his next challenge is sourcing sponsorship for the rally. The last Dakar rider, Crosbie had a torrid time trying to get funding for the race.
“Sponsorship is always going to be a challenge but I am focussed. I wish to do away with this (sourcing sponsorship) as soon as possible so that I can fully concentrate on working on the bike.”
“I have my all time sponsors Armstrong Attorneys and Pick n’ Pay Botswana who have supported my racing significantly for the past five years and I thank them. I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
KTM will not be providing Branch with monetary sponsorship, but will take care of his racing equipment.
He will get a practice bike and a race bike, both fully equipped with state of the art navigation equipment.
He said he will be riding a 450cc motorbike that carries 25 litres of fuel. The bike will be heavier than his previous lower version 450cc bike that carried only eight litres of fuel.
“I am getting a practice bike from the sponsor and everything is totally different. I am starting my preparations as soon as next month.”
“It is like learning to race all over again. The bike is a little heavy because of its fuel capacity and obviously control is going to different, but I will adjust.”
“I should also get my navigations right, Dakar has very tricky courses. It may seem like I have enough time to practise but 2019 is right around the corner, over 9,000kms of racing in 14 days will be demanding but it’s a challenge every rider looks forward to.”
Branch has conquered Africa and claimed many accolades under his belt. He has dominated the local motocross circles from a tender age. He is also a South Africa motocross champion. He won his first 750km desert race at 25 years. He has also dominated the Desert Race in recent years and that include back-to-back wins in the past three years and his exploits earned him a title ‘King of the Desert’.